There comes a huge blow for Chennai Super Kings as their designated death-over specialist, Matheesha Pathirana will miss the initial stage of IPL 2024 due to a hamstring injury. The prolific player sustained the injury during the second T20I against Bangladesh in Sylhet earlier in March where he went off the field after getting retired hurt. As per reports, Pathirana will stay out of action for at least two weeks & will play in the IPL only after getting clearance from the Sri Lanka Cricket medical staff.
Currently, he is undergoing rehab at the high-performance center in Colombo. With the T20 World Cup set to begin on June 1 in the USA and the Caribbean, just days after the end of the IPL, SLC wants to manage Pathirana carefully. Pathirana is not only the one who is on the sidelines for the cash-rich league. Sri Lanka’s fast bowler, Dilshan Madushanka who made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians has been ruled out of the entire IPL season.
Pathirana’s injury is a huge blow for CSK who are already without the services of New Zealand opener Devon Conway, who has been sidelined until May with a thumb injury. Pathirana enjoys an enticing economy rate of 8.00 at the death overs & is among the best death bowl specialists who had 90 balls during this phase in IPL 2023. He has also emerged as the leading wicket-taker during that phase with 18 scalps in 12 innings.
Mustafizur Rahman could step up in place of Matheesha Pathirana
Pathirana’s absence means Bangladesh left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman could come up in the death overs. Mustafizur had suffered cramps, and a stretcher was required to carry him off the field in the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Chattogram on March 18. But he has completed his rehabilitation & is available to join CSK in Chennai. Mustafizur is available for selection in the opening match which is against RCB. If Chepauk’s pitch offers for turn & bounce they can also go with Moeen Ali along with Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, and Maheesh Theekshana.
CSK bowling coach has stressed on the importance of effective bowling in the death overs & that’s one of the reasons that Shardul has been picked by the franchise. He could also be an effective option in place of Pathirana in the death overs.
Bravo emphasized his expertise in death bowling, highlighting its crucial role in T20 matches. “In T20s, the death overs are pivotal,” he expressed at a recent event in Chennai. “It demands a blend of skill, courage, and strategic planning—from rigorous practice sessions to game-time situations.”
He emphasized the importance of instilling this philosophy in the team and cultivating belief among players. Reflecting on their success in the previous year, Bravo expressed optimism about maintaining their strong performance, especially with the return of Shardul Thakur, which adds depth to the squad. “Having depth in the team is always beneficial,” he concluded.
Shivam Dube is back in the CSK lineup for IPL 2024
CSK’s designated spin-hit specialist Shivam Dube is back in the lineup for the upcoming season of IPL. He had missed the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 knockouts due to injury but after completing his rehabilitation he is back at the NCA. CSK will kick-start their Campaign with back-to-back home fixtures against Royal Challengers (March 22) and Gujarat Titans (March 26).
Also read, The Hundred releases Men’s Draft for the 2024 Season
